Girl Scout arranges discussions for parents

Grace Oldfield, 16, of Hickory Ridge, has arranged a series of panel discussions on education and child-rearing for her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest in the Girl Scouts.

Oldfield conceived the idea after her minister and project adviser, the Rev. Mary Eliot, assistant rector at Christ Episcopal Church, said she wanted to reach out to parents.

"I was looking for a project to do, so I thought that sounded very interesting," she said. Oldfield didn't think she could speak to parents, so she decided to organize a series of panel discussions.

The three programs, which feature experts in each field and parents, will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road. Two parents and two experts, most of whom are also parents, will participate on each panel, Oldfield said.

"Raising a Disciplined Child" will be the topic from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. "Educating Your Exceptional Child" will be discussed from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 6. "Legal and Financial Issues of Parenting" is the focus for discussion from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 13.

Admission is free, and child care will be provided. Oldfield has organized a staff of several adults and teenagers, one of whom is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she said.

Information: 410-381-9365. Or e-mail, oldoakley@msn.com.

Land preservation to be discussed

The Howard County Citizens Association will present a talk by Joy Levy, administrator of the Howard County Agricultural Land Preservation Program, "Options for Howard County's Rural West: What's Preserved, What's Developed, and Projections for the Future."

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 12 at Hawthorn Center, 6175 Sunny Spring, in Hickory Ridge village. Admission is free.

Teens ages 13 to 17 are invited to three sessions of hands-on instruction. "Basics of Art Anatomy" will be taught from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 13; "Basics of Charcoal Drawing" is scheduled for June 14, and "Mythical Creatures & Scary Monsters" is the focus on June 15.

Participants can register for one or more sessions, beginning Tuesday. Materials will be provided.

Information: 410-313-7860.

Around town`Mildred Pierce' -- Slayton House in Wilde Lake Village Center will end its season of Marvelous Movies and More with a showing of the 1945 classic film Mildred Pierce, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan Crawford, at 7:30 p.m. June 16. Film critic Mike Giuliano will lead a short discussion after the film. Dessert and coffee will be served. The cost is $7; $6 for senior citizens and students. Seating is limited. 410-730- 3987.

Jazz -- The Baltimore-Washington JAZZfest will hold its 14th celebration of the Claude Ligon House of Jazz, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 17 at Historic Oakland. Performers will include jazz pianist and violinist Alex Brown, tenor saxophonist Whit Williams, flutist Charles "Rahmat" Woods, and vocalists Julie Hall and Steve Guyger. Admission is $65, which includes an appetizer buffet. Tickets are available at the African Art Museum of Maryland at Historic Oakland. Archie Wallace, 410-730- 7106. Or www.houseofjazz.org.